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(No Model.)

' F. W. BITTER, Jr.

Fuel Package. No. 242,369. Patented May 31,1881.

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FREDERIU IV. BITTER, JR, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

F UEL-PACKAGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 242,369, dated May 31,1881.

Application filed May 9, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. FREDERIO W. Rrrrnn, Jr., a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Washington city,in the District of Columbia, haveinvented certain new and useful I m provements in Fuel-Packages; and Ido hereby de clare the following to be a full, clear, and ex actdescription of the invention, reference bein g had to the accompanyingdrawings, form ing a part of the same, wherein- Figure l is aperspective view, partlyin section, of a fuel-package embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 illustrates a second method ofcarrying out theinvention.

Like letters refer to like parts wherever they occur. I

Myinvention relates to the formation of fuelpackages for the purposes oftrade and to facilitate the handling, storage, and transportation offuel.

Hcretofore, so far as I am aware, sawed and split wood other than thevery smallest kind, termed kindling-wood, has always been handled,transported, and sold in a loose state. This is objectionable as amatter of trade and convenience, first, because the purchaser cannotreadily determine the quantity received; secondly, because opportunityis afforded for pilfering between the place of sale and place ofdelivery; thirdly, because much time is lost in handling the article inloading and storing,

fourthly, because the wood cannot be conveniently stored where properaccommodations therefor are not provided; fifthly, because in case ofdispute as to quantity delivered there is no ready means of determiningthe same.

The object of the present invention is to remove such objections; and tothis end it consists in a package of cut and split stove-wood, saidpackage containing a definite quantity inclosed by binding withes,wires, crate, or equivalent means, whereby the same may be readilymeasured, handled, transported, and stored.

Iwill now proceed to describe my invention, so that others may apply thesame.

In the drawings, a a a indicate sections of of wood which have beensawed and split to suitable size for stove or like use. Such seeti on sare preferably regularly arranged or piled to form a cube orparallelopiped containing the sixteenth, eighth, quarter, (1%,) or anyother definite portion of a cord, and are then bound with withes I),which may be woven to constitute a crate around the same, and whichserve to retain them in the desired shape.

The rectangular form and the fractions of a cord have been selected toillustrate the invention, because such a package is the most easilymeasured, handled, and stored; and withes have been designated as thepreferable binders, because the same are cheaply and easily procured,and can be burned, thus utilizing the binder and avoiding theaccumulation of rubbish but any form or quantity demanded by the trade,or which will meet the want of the consumer, may be substituted, and inlieu of withes a frame, such as e (Z, and binding-wires 0, may beemployed.

The well-known split hoop material will also be found advantageous forbinders.

Among the advantages of my invention are the following:

First, the wood may be sawed, split, and made into packages where laboris cheap and there is plenty of room for any machinery required.

Secondly, much time, labor, and expense will be saved in marketing thewood.

Thirdly, any pilfering of wood between the place of sale and place ofdelivery will be pre vented or readily detected.

Fourthly, such packages can be made an article of trade by grocers andsmall dealers, to the convenience of the public.

I do not herein claim such an article as the well-known small bundles offinely-split wood known as fire-kindlers or kindling-wood, as none ofthe purposes of my invention are subserved thereby, as will be readilyapparcut; but,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Pateat, is

1. As an article of trade, a package of cut and split wood of the classspecified containing a definite quantity bound by withes or wires,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. As an article of trade, a package of cut and split wood of the classspecified, said package containing a sixteenth, eighth, or otherdefinite portion of a cord, arranged in the form ofa cube orparallelopiped and bound bywithes, which form a containing-crate,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature, in presence of two witnesses,this 7th day of May, 1881.

FREDERIC \V. BITTER, JR.

\Vi tnesses:

H. B. MOULTON, W. (J. OHAFFEE.

